If you had to pick just one, what’s the worst Medicare-related decision someone can make?
Answered by 8 licensed agents
In my professional opinion, the worst Medicare-related decision is choosing a plan without assessing one’s individual circumstances and relying instead on unsolicited advice from others. I frequently encounter clients who select coverage based on someone else’s experience, only to discover it doesn’t align with their specific healthcare or financial needs. This misstep often leads to unnecessary complications or expenses that a tailored evaluation could prevent.
Answered by Brian Moore on March 26, 2025
Broker Licensed in OH
People fail to analyze their options at the beginning of their Medicare journey, making hasty decisions or following their friends' or families' decisions. These first decisions could affect their Medicare coverage throughout their retirement years, especially their pocketbooks. You should know all the facts or have an agent that you can trust to guide you through the Medicare process when signing up for Medicare.
Answered by Larry Dalton on March 29, 2025
Broker Licensed in OK & TX
The worst mistake, which I see often is incorrect information. Fraud agents telling members they can get $3000 for food/ Not meeting with someone in person to learn what Medicare is, what Medicare can do for someone, review plans in your zip code, understand , compare the plans & make the best choice for you.
Answered by Melonie Wood on March 30, 2025
Agent Licensed in FL & AL
Making a decision without real good understanding of their options. If they choose a Advantage plan, they may not ever be able to apply for a Medicare Supplement Plan.
Enrolling into an application via mail or picking a program their friend recommends. Everyone's Medicare is different. Doctors, Medications, networks and out of pockets all play a heavy role.
Procrastination. Many people wait until the last minute to get their "Medicare affairs," in order.
The worst Medicare-related decision someone can make is missing the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Part B without a valid excuse. The IEP is that seven-month window around your 65th birthday (three months before, the month of, and three after). Skip it, and you’re not just delaying coverage—you’re harming yourself long-term. Unless you’re covered by a qualifying employer plan, you’ll face a late enrollment penalty: a 10% hike on your Part B premium for every 12-month period you could’ve enrolled but didn’t. That sticks with you for life.
I think one of the worst decisions that can be made when it comes to Medicare It’s to just decide not to be covered at all. Not being covered by an employer plan, And not having Medicare part B Does prevent you from having to pay a Medicare part B premium every month. However, If in the future, you ever decide that you need some kind of Medicare plan then at that point there will be a fairly large penalty associated with part B as well as part D. I’m not a fan of paying a monthly cost for something I don’t need, But I do usually see this decision come back and really hurt people. My role as a broker is really only to educate/enroll and I can’t force anybody to make a good choice or a bad choice.
Answered by Gregg Matheny on March 25, 2025
Agent Licensed in AZ & UT
To not enroll in Part B when they qualify for it. Also to not enroll in a PDP plan when they qualify for part D. This can be very expensive
Answered by Ginger Gibbs on March 25, 2025
Broker Licensed in NV, AZ, CA & 14 other states
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